Car-haulage plant



` Feb. 2", 1926.

A. E. NORRIS CAR HAULAGE PLANT d Filed May 5, 1924' 5 sheets-sheet 1 17a/ven ow.-

Feb. 2 1926. v 1,571,732

- A. E. NORRIS GAR HAULAGE PLANT Filed May 5, 1924 f 5 Shts-Sheet 2 A.' E. NORRIS CAR` HAULAGE PLANT Feb. 2 1926.l

1,571,732 A. E. NORRIS CAR HAULAGE PLANT Filed May 5, 1924 1 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 2 1926.

Patented F eb. 2, 1926.

earner eerie.

amatori n. itonnis, or nnooiriiriin, Masseoiiusnrrs.

can-nauiiaen PLANT.Y

Application filed May a,

fo all 107mm t may concern:

Be it known that l, ALBION E. Noiiiii's, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of lalassachusetts, have invented an improvement in Car-Haulage' llants, of which the following` description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, .is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to car haulage devices, and incre particularly/ to cai" haulage plants or systems which utilize pusher or other haulage cars for moving a. loaded freight car into position for the discharge or dumping of its load.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more 'particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig'. 1 is a partial, longitudinal, sectional `view of a car haulage plant embodying` one forni of my invention, the haulage car being shown in engagement with a loaded freight car and about to push the same into position for dumping;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view on a larger scale showing that part of the branch guidetrack section which serves to bring the pusher car into position for engagement with a freight car; l n

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the YrorwirdVA end of the branch guide-track section and the beginning of the inclined track portion;

Fig. il is a similar section showing the car dumper and the delivery end of the pusher car track section.

Fig. 5 is a similar section showing a portion of the guidati-ack section intermediate those shiiwnlin Figs. 2 and 3, and illustrating the return of the pusher' car beneath the loaded freight car;

Fin'. (3 is a cross sectional elevation on the line x(3i-6 in Fig. 2 showing` the trackage arrangement thereat;

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 shows uthe front end of the pusher car and its relation to the separate pusher car track-s;

Fig. Ia sectional elevation showing the 192e. serial no; 710,960.

trackage arrangement taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a plan view partlyvbrokcn away, showing the pusher car; and

`Fig. 11. is a side elevation, partly in sec'- tion andpartly broken away,l also showing the pusher car.

Referringr to the drawings andrto the embodiment of the invention there submit-ted for illustrative purposes, the invention is shown asA embodied in a cai" haulage plant in which a loaded freight car is adapted to be propelled either by gravity or'votherwise along the main trackway 17 (Figs. 1 to 5 in elusive) to a substantially horizontal track section at a point short of a car duinper 19, which latter is reached over a short incline (Figs. 1 and 3) and to which the car is delivered by .a haulage car, herein of the pusher type. For this purpose tliefre'ar of the loaded car on the horizontal track section is engaged by a pusher car 21, sometimes known as a barney, the latter being prop'elled by a cable 23 toy push the freight car up the incline onto the car dumper 19, where it is left by the pusher car or barney, which returns to engage and move a succeeding loaded car into dumping position. To permit the pusher car to pass thesucceeding loaded freight car which has meantime been positioned on the horizontal track section, the latter is providedwit-h what may be termed a transfer station, equipped with devices which permit the pusher car to pass beneath the loaded car but thereafter to engage the latter when the pusher car is moved in the oppositevdirection.

ln'the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the haulage car comprises a single frame member (Figs. 10 and 11) supported on rear truck wheels 27 and forward truck wheels 29, the frame being preferably prolonged beyond` the forward truck wheels andk provided at its ends with a standard car ,coupler7 designated at 31, through which it may be coupled to the rear end of the loaded freight car 15. The yrear truck wheels of the pusher car or.` barney are mounted to run upon the main pusher track section 33 which (Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive) comprises a pair of rails, preferably arranged between the freight rails 17` and at a somewhat lower level, such that, with the pusher car frame in a substantially horizontal position, there is space for the latter to pass beneath the freight car with ample clearance. ln the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the tracks 33 have a substantially unvarying elevation with relation to the freight car track 17.

The forward truck wheels 29, however, are arranged to run upon rails separate from the rails 33 and at a height which may vary relatively to the height of the rails 33, so that the pusher car frame in its successive movements may be caused to tilt up into a position to engage and move the freight car, or to tilt down and pass beneath another car on its return movement, as may be required. By having the two sets of truck vwheels ruiming on independent tracks at variable relative elevations, the front end of the pusher car may be raised or depressed as required by a simple tilting movement of the car as a whole without the employment of movable parts on the car and without the necessity of raising or lowering the ar as a whole.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the forward truck wheels 29 are adapted to run upon the guide-track section comprising rails 35 which, as herein shown, have a slightly lnarrower gauge than the rails 33. On the inclined portion of the trackway, the guide-track section 35 is arranged on a level slightly below that of the track section 33 (see Figs. 3 and 9), or, in other words, at such a height as to tilt up the frame of the pusher car at a suitable angle forengagement with the rear end of the freight car 15. lAtthe foot of the incline, however, there is arranged a transfer station having a pit or hollow into which the guide-track section 35 is depressed relatively to the tracks 17 and 33 so that, after the pusher car has delivered a car to the dumper, been uncoupled therefrom and is hauled back on its return movement, the truck wheels 29 descend on the depressed portion of the rails 35, tilting down the pusher car frame to a substantially horizontal position, yas shown in Fig. 5, in which position it is adapted to pass with ample clearance beneath the loaded car 15, which meantime has beenk placed or moved into position prepara-tory for haulage to the ydumper` The depression in the guide-track 35 extends for a considerable distance so that considerable latitude may be had in positioning the car 15, and at the same time the barney may be brought to the rear of the freight car without interference therewith.

To tilt back the pusher car so that the same may engage the -loaded car after the pusher car has passed beneath the same, there is provided a branch track section 37 having the same gauge as the track 35 and immediately above the same, and means are provided for transferring the truck wheels to this branch track section on forward movement of the pusher car so as to bring car coupling 31 up into alignment with the cooperating coupling member on the freight car. For thispurpose each rail of the elevated branch track section 37 terminates at its rear end in a rail section 39 hinged at 41 to the rail 37. The rail section 39 is inclined down to overlie the rail 35 and act as a switch for transferring the forward trucks from the lower track section 35 to the upper track section 37 when the pusher car is moved forward. Each hingedswitch rail 39 is secured to a guide block 4:3 which slides over aguide sector 45 (see Fig. 6) to permit a limited up and down movement of the switch rail. On the return or idle movement of the pusher car the forward truck wheels 29 pass beneath the respective switch rails and lift them, the rails dropping into their normal depressed position after the truck wheels have passed beyond the same. The switch is thenfset for guidingthe trucks 29 up the incline and on the branch track 37, and for tilting the pusher car from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2` as soon as it is moved forward.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 8, 10 and 11, and to the construction of the pusher car or barney, the frame 25 for the latter is composed of a single, unitary piece 25 tapered in plan from the rear to the front and terminating at the front end in a pusher hea'd 47, in which is secured the standard car coupler 31. The forward end of the unitary frame is rigidly secured to a yoke-shaped support 49, the opposite legs of the latter being Xedly secured to axles 51 on which the truck wheels 29 are journaled. The rear end of the frame is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the rear axle 53, on lwhich latter the rear truck wheels 27 are journaled. As the forward truck wheels 29 rise and fall with varying elevations of the trackway on which they run, the entire frame tilts up or down, as the case may be, varying the height of the pusher head and coupling.

rl`he haulage cable 23, which is preferably in endless forni and suitably controlled by power-driven, cable-winding apparatus to move the pusher car in either direction at will, passes over appropriately positioned guide rollers 54 and is connected at one end to the pusher car by the link 55 secured to the swivel coupling block 57, the latter mounted directly on the rear axley 53 of the pusher car but capable of relative rotation thereon. The remaining end of the cable is secured by the coupling 59 to an eye formed inthe end of the draw-bar 6l, which latter is attached to the draw-plate 63. The draw-plate is mounted for sliding mmflnellt on the upper lower rqds 65 the `rear truck which are threaded into the coupling block, the forward ends of the rods carrying a plate 67 secured thereto by nuts 69, the plate 6'? servingas an abutment for two sets of springs 7l arranged on either side of the draw-bar. Single springs may be employed, but herein compound springs are utilized comprising` several sections of large springs, with concentrically arranged smaller springs and interposed plates between the successive sections.

This arrangement of parts provides shock absorbing connection for the cable to the pusher car so as to minimize the effects of sudden starts, stops or other shocks. V

ln the operation of the haulage plant described, the pusher car, having delivered a loaded car to the dumper, is uncoupled therefrom and hauled back dovvn the incline through the movement of the haulage cable. llhen the car. reaches the transfer station, the rear truck Wheels continue their travel alone' the tracks 33 which retain substantially the seine elevational relation te the tracks 17, but the forward truck wheels pass dov/n the inclined portion of the track 35 and into the pit, serving to tilt down the front end of the pusher car frame with relation to the rear end and leaving; lthe fra-ine. `in substantially horizintal position, as shown in Fig. 5,. In this relation the pusher caiycontinues its travel, passing` readily beneath the loaded freight car l which meantime has been positioned over the transfer station. Afterthe pusher car has emerged from beneath the opposite end of the car l5, the foru lrd truck Wheels pass under the switch rails` B, which latta' yield upwardly and then drop into pc ition in front of the truck Wheels. The movement of the cable is then reversed, propslling,- the pusher car forward and transferring the truck Wheels up the ind switch rails and onto the branch tratas 87, this serving` to again'tilt up the forward end of the pusher car frame and lY-ing the coupling 3l into registration with its companion member on the freight car. 'lhe pushercar being coupled to the freight car, the barney is propelled forward carry ing the freight car up the incline and onto the dumper. ln passingv out of the transfer station, the truck wheels leave the branch rack S7 and again engage with the auribeing;- sustained in passing l e coupling' connection of the trout end the barney to the freight car.

lt will be obseia'ed'that the main pusher constitutes a pusher car guide exlengthvvise the nain track and to be engaged by a guide device he pusher car, 1which herein comprises Wheels. Also `that the auxiliary track and branch auxiliary track 4freight car but 'having a depres 37, elevationally separated therefrom, constitute auxiliary guides separately engaged by an auxiliary guiding device on the pusher car, Which herein comprises the front truck Wheels, and that these are elevationally -arraiubred with relation to each other and to the main tracks 38, so as to vertically tilt the engaging `head of the frame as required from time to time.

llllhile l have herein shown the pusher car frame tilted by varying` the elevation of the front truck Wheels, the rear Wheels might be used for this purpose, or varying` elevations might be imparted to both sets of wheelsto secure the desired aggregate tilting effect, or various other arrangements of guides or guiding tracks and knumerous other forms or relative arrangements of parts might be employed, all coming Within the spirit of the invention.

Claims: l

l. ln a car haulage system, the combina .tion With a main freight car track provided with a pit constituting a transfer station ,Whereat a pusher car is. adapted to pass under a car on the track, and provided beyond said pit with an incline, of a pusher car having a pusher head and a main truck, a pusher car track for the main truck, 'the same extending lengthwise the freight car track and arranged between the same and ata substantially unv,aryingl elevation with relation thereto, said pusher car having also a forward truck anda unitary, rigid body mounted to tip up -or down von said rear truck, said body projecting beyond saidfor- ,vard truck to present a pusher head, a separate auxiliary pusher track ,for the front truck of the pusher car, said auxiliary track beingelevationally related at the incline to the main pusher cartrack to maintain the pusher head up -in position lto engage with the y en in said pit on Which the front truck .descends .inY the return ymovement of the car to lower the pusher head and permit the car to pass beneath a car on the freight car track, a branch auxiliary track at the pit above the depressed auxiliary track, and a switch comprising a hinged track section connecting` said branch track and said depressed auxiliary track, said switch permitting the movement of the front truck past the saine but serving to t'ansier the front truck to the elevated4 branch track on the'forward movement of the pusher car to again causethe elevation of the pusher head thereof, and a haulagecable for propelling` said pusher carin either direction. p

2. A car haulage system having` a pusher car provided with a pusher head,- a main track provided ivithav transfer Ystation of substantial length Whereat the pusher car is adapted` to pass beneath a car on the main track, a pusher car guide comprising a main pusher caij track extending lengthwise the inain'track, a guiding device on the pusher car comprising a main truck engaging the pusher car track, a separate auxiliary guide comprising an auxiliary track also extending lengthwise the main track, anL auxiliary guiding device on the pusher car comprising a second truck engaging said auxiliary track, the pusher head being elevationally controlled by the elevational variation of said second truck, a branch auxiliary guide at the `transfer station comprising a branch track elevationally separated from the auxiliary track, said second truck engaging with one of Said auxiliary tracks when the pusher car is moved in one direction, and a switch for transferring the auxiliary guiding truck to the other auxiliary track when the pusher car is nioved in the opposite direction.

3. A car haulage system having a pusher car provided with a pusher head, a main track provided with a transfer station of substantial length whereat the pusher car is adapted to pass under a car on the main track, a pusher car guide extending lengthwise the main track, a guiding device on the pusher car engaging the same, a separate auxiliary guide also extending lengthwise the main track, an auxiliary guiding device on the pusher car engaging the said auxiliary guide, the pusher head being' eleva` tionally controlled bythe elevational variation of said auxiliary guiding device, a branch auxiliary guide at the transfer station elevationally separated from the auxiliary guide,'said guiding device engaging one of said auxiliary guides when the pusher car is moved in one direction, and devices for transferring the auxiliary guiding device to the other auxiliary guide when. the pusher car is moved in the opposite direction, and devices for transferring the auxiliary guiding device to the other auxiliary guide when the pusher car is moved inthe opposite direction.

4. In a car haulage system, the combination with a freight track having a transfer station, whereat a pusher car is adapted to pass under a car on the freight track, of a pusher car, a inain track'for the pusher car extending lengthwise the freight track and at a substantially unvarying elevation with relation thereto, a separate auxiliary pusher car track having two elevationally separated branches at said transfer station, olie of said branches being engaged by a pusher car part when the pusher car is inoved in one direction, andy devices for transferring the pusher car part to the other branch when the car is moved in the opposite direction.

5. In a car haulage system, the conibination with a freight track having a transfer station whereat a pusher car is adapted to Lpass* under a car on the freight track, of a pusher car, a main tack for the pushed car extending lengthwise the freight track, a separate auxiliary pusher car track having two elevationally separated branches at said transfer station, one of said branches being engaged by a pusher car part when the pusher car is moved in one direction, and devices for transferring the pusher car part to the other branch when the car is moved in the opposite direction. f

6. 'In a` car haulage system, the combination with a freight car track provided with attransfer station whereat a pusher car is adapted to pass under a car on the freight car track, of a pusher car having front and rear trucks, a pusher car track for the rear truck extending lengthwise the freight cai` track, a separate auxiliary track for the front truck of the pusher car, said auxiliary track having a depressed portion at the transfer station, a branch portion for said auxiliary track over and above the depressed track portion, and means for transferring the front truck wheels from one auxiliary track portion to the other through movement of the pusher car.

7. In a car haulage system, the combination ywith a main freight car track provided with a transfer station whereat a pusher car is adapted to pass under the car on the freight car track, of a pusher car track, and an auxiliary track engaged by` devices on the pusher car separate from those engaging the pusher car track, said auxiliary track being branched at the transfer station to provide overlapping but separate track sections, said devices being adapted to engage with one ofsaid branches when the pusher cark is moved in one direction and with the other one when moved in the opposite direction. c

8. In a car haulage system, the combination with a freight track, of a pusher track for the main truck of a pusher car, a separate auxiliary guide track eiigageable by a device on the pusher car, said auxiliary track having a relatively depressed portion on which the pusher car device descends in the return movement of the car while the main truck of the pusher car is in engage,

ment with the pusher track, an overlapping branch track at a level above the depressed track portion, and a switch by which the pusher car device is transferred to said branch on the forward movement of the pusher car.

9. In a car haulage systeiii, the combination with a freight track, of a pusher t ack for thevtruck of a pusher car, a separate auxiliary guide track engaged by a part on the pusher car, said guide track having a relatively depressed portion with which the pusher cai' device engages when the car is moved in one direction and while the pusher car truck .iS still in engagement With the pusher track, and having also a relatively elevated overlapping portion with which the pusher car device engages on movement of the car in the opposite direction.

l0. In a car haulage system, the combination with a main freight car track provided with a transfer station whereat a haulage car is adapted to pass under a car on the freight track, of a haulage car l1aving a rigid, unitary frame with an end adapted to engage with the freight car, a plu 1ality of haulage car track sections separately engaged by devices on the haulage car and elevationally arranged to vertically tilt the engaging end of said frame relatively to the opposite end thereof.

11. In a freight car haulage system, the combination with a main freight car 'tix ck provided with a transfer station, of a haulage car having a frame provided with an end adapted to engage with the freight car, a plurality of haulage tracks separately engaged by devices on the haulage car, and rel# atively positioned to tilt the engaging end of said frame up on movement through said transfer station in one direction and 'to tilt the same down on movement in the opposite direction.

12. In a car haulage system, the combination with a main freight car track provided with a transfer station, of a haulage car having a frame with an end adapted to engage with the freight car, a plurality of haulage car track sections separately engaged by devices on the haulage car, one of said sections having elevationally separated branches at the transfer station, and arranged to vertically tilt the engaging end of said frame upwardly on movement of the car in one direction and to tilt the same downwardly on movement of the car in the opposite direction.

13. In a car haulage plant, a main track for a car to be moved, a haulage track extending intermediate the same, a transfer station, a haulage car on said track, said haulage car comprising a single, unitary frame, the latter adapted to be moved npward by a tilting movement to engage a car on the main track, and to be moved downward by a reverse tilting movement so that the haulage car as a whole may pass beneath a car on the main track and means for upwardly tilting said car when the pusher car has moved to `the opposite side of the transfer station.

14. A pusher car for a car haulage plant, comprising a rear truck, a single, unitary frame mounted to tilt about said rear truck, a forward truck, and a pusher head at the end of said framev beyond said forward truck.

15. A pusher car for a car haulage plant,`

station whereat a pusher car is adapted to pass beneath and beyond the car on the freight track, of a pusher car having a pusher member, and a pusher car guide track having two elevationally separated branches at the transfer station, said pusher car having a part adapted to engage one branch when the car is moved in one direction to lower the pusher member relatively to an other part of the pusher car and to engage the other branch when the car. is moved in the opposite direction to raise the pusher member relatively to said other part of the pusher car and engage the same with a freight car at said transfer station.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALMON E. NORRIS. 

